Homecoming Heritage Tour

You’ve finally arrived in Africa, a special place where you can relax and immerse yourself in the experiences that will strengthen your connection to your culture and heritage. Your guide and driver will be waiting for you at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, on the beautiful gold coast of Western Africa. Just look for the Ashanti African Tours sign after clearing customs. Your guide will be with you throughout the trip, taking care of everything. After your evening arrival, the goal is to swiftly transfer you to your hotel for check-in, allowing you to unwind and start enjoying your vacation. Following check-in, there’s an Akwaaba welcome home dinner where you can ask questions and your guide will provide information about your trip while you savor delicious African cuisine. You can choose to relax at the hotel after dinner or explore Accra’s nightlife with your guide and driver if you’re too excited to rest.

Accommodation – Labadi beach hotel in Accra

On your first day in Ghana, you’ll enjoy the sunny weather as you begin with breakfast at your hotel. The day’s adventure includes a tour of Accra, passing through economic and administrative districts on the way to the National Museum. This museum offers an ethnographic overview of West African culture, featuring displays from various countries. Nearby, a garden showcases sculptures depicting West African traditions and customs. The museum area also hosts markets selling beautiful African fabrics. Your guide can even arrange for tailored clothing.From there, you’ll visit significant landmarks: the Black Star Gate representing freedom, Independence Square with an African liberation flame, and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, honoring the nation’s founding father. Nearby is the National Cultural Center, a vast outdoor market for traditional West African crafts. Lunch at a local restaurant will introduce you to West African and continental dishes, including Ghana’s famous Jollof Rice.The tour continues with a walk through Jamestown and Usshertown, Accra’s oldest suburbs. You’ll see historical structures predating colonial times, and the area provides insight into pre-independence and colonial eras. Notable landmarks include a 30-meter lighthouse and colorful fishing boats. You’ll also explore Fort James, part of Accra’s colonial past.The tour delves into old Accra, highlighting differences between British and Dutch influences. You’ll see Brazilian stone houses, built by Africans who returned from Brazil after the abolition of the slave trade. This community faces social challenges like street children and child labor.The evening focuses on Jamestown’s boxing tradition, which thrives due to the area’s hardships. Notable boxers have emerged, and a local businessman supports youth through boxing events. You might witness a weekly boxing show or visit a gym. The day ends with an immersive experience at a local bar and restaurant, where you can savor food, music, and the true spirit of Accra. You can then choose to relax at the hotel or explore more of Accra’s nightlife.

Accommodation – Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra

After breakfast, the first destination is the DuBois Center, the former home and burial place of Dr. William W. Burghardt DuBois, a prominent American Pan-Africanist. He led the Pan-African congress and was an advocate against segregation. The center now serves as a library and research institute for Pan-Africanism. The journey continues from Accra towards Ghana’s Volt region, passing over the Volta River. Before leaving the city, a stop is made at TK Beads, where traditional beads are crafted using ancient methods. Beads symbolize wealth and beauty in Ghanaian culture and are used during durbars and festivals. The process is explained, and beads can be purchased from the onsite shop.Next, the Shai Hills Reserve is visited, an expanse of Savannah grassland with impressive rock formations, home to baboons, antelopes, and monkeys. The landscape also houses traditional shrines due to its history as the former home of the Shai people. A wildlife guide accompanies the group on a hike to Obonu Tem caves, offering the chance to spot Egyptian Tomb Bats and colorful birds.After this adventure, the journey continues to Akosombo. The riverfront hotel is the base, providing relaxation time. A river cruise option allows for sightings of local fishermen and serene scenery along the White Volta River. The evening promises good food, company, and relaxation, all enjoyed in the stunning location overlooking the river.

Accommodation – Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo

Today offers a choice: relaxing at the hotel’s pool or embarking on a full-day excursion to the Volta region. Beginning with an early breakfast, the journey leads to the Wli (Agumatsa) Falls in the Agumatsa wildlife sanctuary. These falls are reputedly West Africa’s tallest, surrounded by lush flora and fauna. A trek through the semi-deciduous forest, originating from Wli village, takes you to the falls. The sound of Straw-coloured Fruit Bats mixes with the powerful river flow. You can even swim in the pool beneath the falls before heading to HoHoe for lunch.

The afternoon revolves around Tafi Atome, a village that reveres the endangered True Mona monkeys as sacred messengers. This community has safeguarded the monkeys and their habitat for centuries. You’ll learn about their protection from local traditionalists, explore the forests to see the monkeys, and discover medicinal plants used in traditional herbal remedies. The local ethnic group is Ewe.

Close by, Tafi Abuife showcases generations of traditional Ewe kente cloth weaving. This Volta Region style differs from the Ashanti Region’s Bonwire kente cloth. With varying colors and designs, you’ll understand the history of each design and have a chance to purchase kente at reasonable prices. Returning to your accommodation overlooking the White Volta river, you can relax, savor local dishes over dinner, and reflect on the day’s experiences.

Accommodation – Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo

Today you’ll start with a relaxed breakfast before leaving your hotel and heading north towards the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The journey will take you into the picturesque Akuapem hills, offering stunning views of Accra and Tema in the distance. At the hill’s summit lies the Aburi Botanical Gardens, established by the British in 1890. These gardens showcase a diverse array of indigenous and exotic plants. Your guide will provide insights into the plants, some with medicinal properties, and their benefits to the locals. Nearby, the Aburi craft village offers a laid-back and welcoming atmosphere. Skilled craftsmen create traditional African drums, sculptures, and crafts that have been passed down for generations. The village is known for its reasonable prices, making it a great spot for souvenir shopping. Your guide will explain the cultural significance of various sculptures.

Lunch will be enjoyed in Koforidua, the capital of the Eastern Region, before continuing your journey to Kumasi, where you’ll arrive in the early evening. Once checked into your accommodation, you’ll have an evening meal and the rest of the day for leisure, allowing you to unwind and relax.

Accommodation – Golden Bean Hotel in Kumasi

The morning starts with a visit to the last remains of the Asante Empire, designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These traditional Asante buildings host 10 active shrines made from bamboo, timber, mud, and thatch. The walls are adorned with motifs that bear ancient Adinkra symbols, which hold significant cultural meanings. The site is connected to Nana Yaa Asantewaa, a prominent female warrior and leader of the Ashanti during the 1901 war against the British. You’ll explore her legacy and visit the spiritual shrine where she fortified herself for battle.

The journey through Ashanti history continues with visits to Adanwomasie and Ntonso. Adanwomasie is the birthplace of Ghana’s vibrant Kente cloth. You’ll interact with skilled weavers, learn about the history of various designs, and witness traditional looms that have persisted for generations. Ntunso is the origin of adinkra symbols, carved from calabash shells and printed onto cloth with natural dyes. This ancient tradition predates even kente cloth, and you’ll have the chance to create your own adinkra strip with meaningful symbols.

After lunch, you’ll explore Sokoban Krofrom, known for traditional brass casting that has sustained the community for generations. You’ll witness the intricate process and have the opportunity to purchase brass souvenirs. The day concludes with dinner options, either at your hotel or in town, where you can experience Kumasi’s nightlife and diverse cuisine.

Accommodation – Golden Bean Hotel in Kumasi

In the morning, you’ll check out of your hotel and head to the Manhyia Palace, the residence of the Asantehene, the King of the Ashanti people. The Palace Museum provides an insightful journey through the history of the Ashanti empire, offering a firsthand understanding of their culture and legacy.

Next, you’ll visit the National Cultural Centre near Bantama, Kumasi. This area hosts a craft market and the Prempeh II Jubilee museum, which showcases Ashanti history and ancient artifacts. Leaving Kumasi, you’ll head south to Elmina in the central region of Ghana. Elmina was named by the Portuguese due to the abundance of gold in the area, reflecting Ghana’s historical significance in the gold trade.

A poignant stop at Assin Manso follows, a town along the enslaved African trade route. This location marked a significant point on the journey for enslaved Africans, where they were checked and bathed before being transported to Cape Coast for shipment to the Americas. The journey was grueling, often leaving them in poor health.

In the early evening, you’ll visit Cape Coast Castle, a powerful and emotional monument to the painful history of the transatlantic slave trade. This castle held more enslaved Africans than any other in West Africa. Quality time will be spent exploring this historical site, including the dungeons where captives were held before being taken through the infamous “Door of no Return.”

You’ll have the opportunity to pay respects at a shrine in the end dungeon, and an educational museum explains the castle’s history. Many people from the diaspora have returned to Ghana and settled in Cape Coast and Elmina, setting up businesses and homes. After settling into your hotel, you can choose to dine at one of the restaurants owned by those who’ve returned, hearing their experiences and insights. Alternatively, you can relax at the hotel, reflecting on the day’s experiences.

Accommodation – Golden Hill Parker Hotel in Elmina

Get ready for an action-packed day starting with an early sunrise breakfast on Ghana’s finest beachfront. Your adventure continues at Kakum National Park, a semi-deciduous upper guinea rainforest famous for its canopy walkway. The canopy walkway, suspended 40 meters above the rainforest floor, offers stunning views and consists of seven bridges attached to emerging trees. The experience is breathtaking and unforgettable.

Back at the park headquarters, an informative center provides insight into the park’s flora and fauna, including over 40 mammal species like forest elephants and leopards. After lunch, an extraordinary moment awaits with your official Naming Ceremony. Visiting a local village, you’ll be welcomed by chiefs and community elders, marking your return to the land of your ancestors. Traditional drumming and dancing immerse you in the Ghanaian village life. During your personal naming ceremony, you’ll be given a true African name by chiefs and elders, following ancestral traditions. This name would have been yours if you were born in Ghana, carrying emotional significance. After celebrations, you’ll return to your hotel to relax.

In the evening, you have the option to celebrate by heading to Cape Coast town for live music, food, dancing, and reflection. Alternatively, you can choose to unwind at your hotel. This remarkable day promises memorable experiences and a deep connection to Ghana’s culture and heritage.

Accommodation – Golden Hill Parker Hotel in Elmina

The morning offers relaxation at the hotel’s facilities, where you can swim, enjoy the pool, and soak in the picturesque views of Elmina town. The culinary journey begins as you meet cook Sister Akua in Cape Coast. Each participant has their own table and ingredients to create a Ghanaian dish for lunch. It’s a fun activity with options like red red, ampesie, fufu, groundnut soup, banku, and the famous jollof rice. The best part is savoring your creations. You’ll receive a local cookbook to continue cooking African dishes.

After lunch, you’ll head to Brenu Akyinim, one of Ghana’s best beaches, showcasing the positive impact of your travels on local communities. Before enjoying the beach, you’ll visit the Brenu Akyinim primary school, built with tour profits to provide education after the previous school was destroyed. The afternoon is dedicated to beach relaxation, with dinner featuring delicious seafood against the backdrop of the West African Gold Coast. A beach bonfire enhances the ambiance, complemented by local drumming and dancing. You can even partake in traditional drumming lessons and dances before returning to the hotel to unwind.

Accommodation – Golden Hill Parker Hotel in Elmina

After a relaxing breakfast, your guide and driver will collect your bags and prepare to head back to Accra. En route, you’ll pass through Elmina, a fishing town with a rich history. In Elmina, you’ll visit the Castle of St. George, the oldest colonial building in sub-Saharan Africa, dating back to 1482. This castle has historical significance, particularly during the tragic era of the transatlantic slave trade. The castle now stands as a silent monument to that painful history and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. After the tour, you can explore the local fishing market and visit the traditional boat builders, witnessing a community that has changed little since the days of the slave trade.

Continuing your journey, you’ll return to Accra, the capital. Before your departure, there’s an early evening meal arranged, providing an opportunity for goodbyes and reflections on the wonderful experiences shared. As you leave, you become a part of the Ashanti African Tours family, and though missed, your time in Ghana will leave a lasting impact.

Departure